Coastal Bend, TX RV – Jan 17, 2022

As the moon slowly descends into a sky of blues and grays we are again reminded of the verse found in Lamentations 3:22,23, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassion never fail. They are new every morning great is your faithfulness.”   A member of the team was reminded of this verse as they spoke to a home owner last week.  He said over and over again “I was at the bottom, no hope of anything, my entire life has been a struggle and it hasn’t gotten any better.’   That was until construction began on his new home.  Often the volunteers wonder about home owners and we are encouraged as we hear their “life stories.” As their stories come to life our strength is renewed as we labor on.  It may be as simple as painting the house or cleaning up dry wall compound off floors but these gifts of labor resonate with the home owners and the volunteers.  This week we continue on with the painting of Pearl’s home inside and out.  Outside work has been done by Dennis and Joanna even on some very cold mornings.  Dave and Ken are almost finished with the flooring in her home, of course they had some help from the gals on the team.   Karen has been busy caulking and painting the beautiful window sills Dave made last week.  Nancy and Bruce along with Jean and Bill started on another new build priming and painting the entire home inside.  The owner shared that she has never had central heat or air conditioning.  She had always used fans and a space heater and cannot wait until the home is completed.

Hanging on the back wall of the office trailer is a quote by Edward Everett Hale, “I am only one, but I am one.  I cannot do everything, but I can do something.  And I will not let what I can not do interfere with what I can do.”  This is true of the volunteers here, by working together we are accomplishing tasks that seem daunting to just one, yet so rewarding to us all.

We welcome four new team members this week.  Bill and Sandi from northern Indiana and Joe and Roxanna from Michigan.   We are thankful for their safe travels here and are excited about forming even more friendships.

Duane and Jean, Ken and Rita, Dennis and Joanna, Bruce and Nancy and Dave and Karen